Rico

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What is Rico?

Rico is the nickname for Brunswick product specialist Ric Hamlin. Origins of this nickname are unknown.
"RICO" is also the name of a specific bowling ball drill that is traced back in origin to Ric.

Who is Rico?

Portrait of Ric Hamlin.

As taken in part from BrunswickInsiders.com:

About Ric

  • Married since 2000 with 2 puppies. Wife is Carolyn (and is world reknowned for her chocolate chip cookies) Puppies names are Lucky & Sierra (both Jack Russell Terriers)
  • Lives in Vancouver Wa (USA)
  • PBA Member from 1985 to 2001 Regional as well as National Tour
  • Employed by Brunswick since April of 2003
  • Previously employed by Coast Casinos as Director of Pro Shop Operations as well as manager of the Orleans Pro Shop
  • Owned Pro Shop from 1996-2000 in Northern California (R and D Professional Bowling Services)
    Ric's typical 4 course meal.
  • Grew up in bowling as father managed numerous bowling centers for the Air Force. Mother went into labor (with Ric) watching father bowl league.
  • New passion is learning to play golf.
  • Worked at Coast lanes from 2000-2003
  • Bowling in sanctioned league since 1970 High Scores twenty 300 games and five 800 series (high 820) ABC National Tournament average 205
  • First junior bowler (AJBC) in the 1981-82 season to record two 300 games. Never booked under 200 as an ABC member (20+ years)
  • Been involved (employed) in the bowling business since 1980 as well as drilling since 1980.
  • Rico is also known for consuming massive amounts of pure cane sugar in a single sitting.

About Rico Drill

Rico drill, who's originator is Ric Hamlin, was developed to be a smooth rolling drill, typically used by anyone with a horizontal PAP measurement inside of 5" over and a vertical measurement of 0" up. This soft requirement for the drill is to prevent the ending flare lines from rolling over the middle finger hole, thus this drill is more attractive to "low trackers" than "high trackers".
Typically, target balls are ones with a Medium to Low RG and a Medium differential. This trpe of drill is typically targeted by high rev players to smooth over/under reactions, but there are no limitations to what type of bowler can use this layout.

Example of Rico Drill.

How to layout Rico

To layout for Rico, the pin is placed in the bowler's center of grip, and the ball is layed out "45 degree" or with the CG layed out in a 45 degree angle in accordance with the bowler's positive axis point. In the example shown to the right, there is an extra hole drilled into the ball to complete the rico layout. This extra hole is placed 6 3/4" from the pin through the CG, the purpose of this extra hole is to raise the bowtie to prevent the final few flare tracks from migrating over the finger holes, causing the ball to thump on the backend.

References

BrunswickInsiders.com